OpenAI’s Future AI Device May Be About the Size of an iPod Shuffle

OpenAI is reportedly ramping up work on advanced audio AI as it prepares for a future voice-first device, according to new reporting from The Information and Taiwan’s Economic Daily News.

A recent paywalled report from The Information says OpenAI is developing a new audio-model architecture designed to support a voice-based companion device. The model is expected to launch in the first quarter of 2026 and is aimed at delivering more natural and expressive speech, faster responses, and better handling of interruptions and overlapping conversation.

The report says OpenAI recently merged several engineering, product, and research teams after finding that its existing audio models lag behind text-based systems in both accuracy and latency. The new setup is intended to close that gap ahead of new hardware plans.

Leadership on the audio push reportedly includes Kundan Kumar, a voice AI researcher hired from Character.AI in mid-2025, along with Ben Newhouse, who is working on audio infrastructure, and Jackie Shannon, a product manager overseeing multimodal ChatGPT features.

Separately, a supply-chain report from Economic Daily News says OpenAI is also moving closer to an AI device launch. The publication describes the product as pen-shaped and positioned as a potential “third core device,” alongside smartphones and laptops. The device is said to be lightweight and portable, roughly the size of an iPod Shuffle, with a microphone and camera to understand its surroundings.

Below, here is the iPod Shuffle family from first gen, to second, third and fourth (and final) at the bottom:

According to the report, the device could convert handwritten notes into text and upload them directly to ChatGPT. A launch window of 2026 to 2027 is expected, though the final design has not been finalized and could end up as either a smart pen or a compact audio-focused device.

The Economic Daily News report also claims manufacturing plans have shifted, with Foxconn becoming the sole production partner as part of a strategy to reduce reliance on China, replacing earlier plans involving Luxshare.

Other sources claim the internal codename of the project is “Gumdrop” and again could be a pen or a portable audio device. OpenAI apparently wants the product made in Vietnam to avoid tariffs.

Back in May, OpenAI acquired former Apple designer Jony Ive’s AI startup in a massive $6.5 billion deal. The goal is to create a new AI-powered hardware device powered by ChatGPT.

Alright, who’s going to be buying one of these AI devices? Jony Ive designed? Take my money.